Flap turning device



April 15, 1969 v. E. JOHNSON FLAP TURNING DEVICE Sheet Filed Nov. 1. 1966 INVENTOR. VICTOR E. JOHNSON ATTORNEY April 15, 1969 v. 5., JOHNSON FLAP TURNING DEVICE N. 3 x Y M m W WR W w m T m m M m %r .I... \Y\\\\ M A k @w m Q L L U J: Q

April 15, 1969 v. E. JOHNSON FLAP TURNING DEVICE Sheet Filed Nov. 1. 1966 INVENTOR.

VICTOR E. JOHNSON ATTORNE 7 United States Patent 3,438,172 FLAP TURNING DEVICE Victor E. Johnson, Westport, Conn., assignor to Pitney- Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,253 Int. Cl. B65b 11/48, 7/26 US. C]. 53-38 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device for turning flaps in the closing of envelopes. It more specifically relates to the use of a flap turner in an automatic envelope closing and sealing machine.

One of the main uses for an envelope closing and sealing machine i in connection with the processing of letters to be mailed, and such devices are often associated with a postage meter.

Postage meter mailing machines generally are designed to handle envelopes in two conditions, namely with the flap in a closed position, and with the flap in an open, or fiapped condition. When the envelope is fed to the machine with the flap closed against the body of the envelope, it is necessary for the machine to separate the flap from the envelope so that a moistening device may enter between the fiap and the envelope body and make contact with the inner gummed surface of the flap and moisten it for sealing, after which the flap is again pressed against the body of the envelope for sealing. Separation of the flap is attained by a device called a flap stripper. Although such a method for sealing of envelopes is entirely satisfactory, it has not been possible previously to attain the high speed throughput desired in large volume mailing.

In order to attain higher throughput in mailing machines, the need to separate the flap from the envelope, i.e., to strip the flap, has been eliminated by some prior art machines by passing the envelope into the machine with the flap open or in a flapped position. The envelopes generally are stacked on top of one another with flaps open which results in the envelopes being nested with the body horizontal and the flaps hanging vertically. Thus as each envelope passes through the machine, means is provided to turn the flap in towards the body of the envelope with moistening taking place at some time during passing of the envelope through the machine.

In the prior art flap turning devices, a surface i provided which the flap engages, the surface having a configuration so as to first bend the gummed edge of the fiap inward toward the envelope body. Such devices have made it possible to attain high speed in envelope closing. However, such a means of closing can result in the flap being bent at a point not in line with the junction of the flap and the envelope body, i.e., at the hinge line, resulting in a false crease after sealing. Moreover, the prior art fiap turners have not readily handled deeper flaps without damage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method and means to turn flaps in a mailing machine.

A further object is to provide an apparatus and method 3,438,172 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 for sealing envelopes at high speeds which does not cause false creases in the envelopes.

A further object is to provide an apparatus and method for rapid sealing of deep flap envelopes,

An additional object is to provide an apparatus and method to shorten the distance required for turning the flap of an envelope.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

The invention accomplishes the above objects and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing means to give a reverse bow to the leading edge of the flap and thereafter delaying closing of the flap as long as possible.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which represent embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in phantom of a mailing machine showing stacked nested envelopes and the flap turner.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the machine in phantom showing stacked nested envelopes, the flap turner and the bump or feed wheel.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the machine showing the envelope deck and an envelope at various points as it progresses through the machine.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional end view of the flap-turner take along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional end view of the envelope stack taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional end view of an envelope and the leading end of the flap-turner taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing the reverse bow in the flap.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional end view of an envelope and the flap turner taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 3 showing delaying closing of the envelope.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional end view of an envelope and the flap turner taken along the lines 88 of FIG. 3 showing the flap in a nearly closed position.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional end view of a conventional flap turner and envelope taken at the same position as FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional end view of the fiap turner of FIG. 9 taken at the position represented by FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional end view of the flap turner of FIG. 9 taken at the position represented by FIG. 8.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show partial views in elevation and plan of the conventional flap turner of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, a high speed, high volume postage meter mailing machine is shown with a mailing machine base 1 having a postage meter 2 mounted on it. The mailing machine base 1 is adapted to pass envelopes E from hopper 3 in succession along deck 4 where the envelope is sealed and meter 2 imprints the proper postage on the envelope.

Envelopes E are stacked fiat in hopper 3 with flaps F open in a nested position and hanging vertically (See FIGS. 1 and 5) below the level of deck 4 in an enlarged slot 5 of the deck beneath hopper 3. Slot 5 narrows to slot 6 which continues the entire length of deck 4 between the inner edge 7 and wall 8 to opening 9 in deck 4 where the folded flap F emerges from beneath deck 4. Envelopes E are sloped upward at the rear of the stack in hopper 3 with the front end of the lowest envelope resting on deck 4. A segmented bump wheel 10 mounted on a shaft 11 rotates beneath deck 4. With each rotation wheel seg ment 10 passes through an opening 12 in deck 4 immediately below the leading edge of the bottom envelope E and makes contact with that edge to move the bottom envelope E along deck 4. The slope of the envelope stack and the slope of the rear support 13 of hopper 3 tend to push the lowest envelope in a forward direction so that it is picked up and fed by bump wheel 10.

The flap turner means 14 is mounted below deck 4 to sidewall 8 by any suitable means, for example machine screws 15. Flap turner 14 comprises a forward section 16, an intermediate section 17 and end section 18.

Front section 16 is a nose with a convex surface 19 curving out from wall 8 and with a rising edge 20 where the nose intersects wall 8. A vertical shield 21 is positioned between bump wheel and nose 16 to prevent contact of envelope flaps F with the side of the bump wheel and to aid in giving the reverse bow to the envelope flap.

Intermediate section 17 has a descending plane surface 22 sloping downward from the highest point of edge 20 on nose 16. In addition, surface 22 slopes down and outward from wall 8. Surface 22 leads into rising surface 23 of the end section 18 which rises to the level of the top of nose 16. A plane surface 24 extends from nose 16 across the intermediate and end sections of the flap turner. Surface 24 is substantially horizontal at the junction with wall 8, and slopes downward and out from wall 8 at a constant slope throughout.

In the operation of the machine, the lower envelope E from the stack of envelopes E is picked up by rotating bump Wheel 10 and moved from the hopper 3 along deck 4- in the direction of the arrows (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). The hinge line of flap F of envelope E rides against wall 8 and follows line L through the machine. Flap F hangs vertically downward initially and moves over the various sections of flap turner 14. The movement of envelope E is shown by the successive positions E E E in FIG. 3, and the action of the flap turner 14 on the flap F at each position is shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively.

At positions E the envelopes E and all flaps F are nested as shown in FIG. 5. As bump wheel 10 picks up the bottom envelope E (see FIG. 2) it is moved past position E as shown in FIG. 3. At position E the leading edge of flap F moves over nose 16 of the flap turner and is given a reverse bow by convex surface 19 and rising surface 20 as shown in FIG. 6. Here it will be seen that flap F passes between shield 21 and nose 16. Shield 21 continues the curve of the bow and prevents the flap F from striking against the isde of bump wheel 10, especially with deep flaps.

Envelope E is moved further by means not shown (such means being well known in the art as shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,167,252 to Rouan et a1.) past position E The leading edge of flap F is then allowed to fall open as shown in FIG. 7 by the gradually descending surface 22 of intermediate section 17 of the flap turner. This is done to delay closing of the flap to prevent unusual stresses in the flap P which might cause tearing of the flap.

As envelope E passes position E the leading edge of flap F is lifted up to the closing position shown in FIG. 8 by the rising surface 23 of end section 18 of the flap turner. At this time, the trailing edge of the flap will still be bowed by nose 16. Thus it 'will be seen that the envelopes pass continuously from the stacked position, past the flap turner, where the flap is given a reverse bow by moving over a nose at the forward end of the flap turner. The curve of the bow is maintained in the part of the flap in contact with the nose, but is released on the part of the flap already past the nose as pointed out above.

After envelope E has passed position E the flap passes over a moistening device not shown but which may be the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,167,253 to Rouan et al. mentioned above. After this, the turned flap emerges from under deck 4 through slot 9 (see FIG. 1) and the flap is pressed against the envelope between rollers (not shown) to seal the envelope.

With each revolution of bump wheel 10, the next envelope on the bottom of the stack in hopper 3 is moved forward and through the same procedure along deck 4, and closed and sealed as described above.

FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 represent views of a conventional flap turner corresponding in position to the views in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 respectively. Such a flap turner has a configuration as shown in side View in FIG. 12 and plan view in FIG. 13. as mounted beneath deck 104 against Wall 108. As illustrated, the conventional flap turner merely beginning at the gummed edge turns the flap inwardly, and swings the flap upwardly against the envelope body as the leading edge of the flap moves up the ascending surface of the flap turner in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 12 and 13. It will be noted that the flap has an inward bow and is lifted up at the hinge line resulting in false creases on sealing. This is eliminated by the reverse bow of the flap as shown in FIG. 6 which maintains the hinge line of the flap horizontal and against wall 8 thus reducing the ability of the flap turners to cause high seal and therefore minimizing the possibility of false creases.

A further advantage of my new flap turner is that it makes it possible to turn the flap in a shorter time and distance, thus making it possible to shorten the length of the machine while maintaining high throughput speed of envelopes.

It will be understood that the flap turner structure may be made from any suitable material such as metal or plastic. It can be molded as a single plastic element. Further, it can be made as more than one piece and the pieces may be made of different materials. For example, the nose could be made of metal, the intermediate section of plastic and the end section of metal, if desired.

After the enevelope is sealed, it will generally be imprinted with postage in meter 2. However, my flap turner may be used without postage imprinting Where it is only desired to seal envelopes. In this instance, mailing machine 1 can be used without meter 2, as it is well known in the art.

While I have disclosed my flap turning device in an embodiment for closing and sealing envelopes, it will be obvious that it may be used with any type of package or article having a bent over flap.

Although I have disclosed an embodiment of my invention and preferred modes of practice it will be understood that this is solely for the purpose of illustration and the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes and modification may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an envelope handling device having means for holding an envelope with flap open, and means for moving said envelope through the device;

means to turn the flap of said envelope against said envelope, said means comprising:

a first means to place a reverse bow transversely in said flap; and subsequent means for moving said flap against said envelope.

2. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving envelopes serially through the device;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising:

a first means to place a reverse bow transversely in said flap; and subsequent means for lifting said flap to a closed position.

3. In an envelope sealing device having means for hold ing a stack of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving said envelopes serially through the machine from the bottom of said stack;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising in succession:

a first means to place a reverse bow transversely in said flap;

a second means for maintaining said flap in a partially closed position; and

a third subsequent means for lifting said flap to a closed position.

4. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving envelopes seri' ally through the device;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising:

a first means to place a reverse bow transversely in said flap, comprising cooperating surfaces adapted to make contact with the outer and inner faces of said flap; and

subsequent means for lifting said fiap to a closed position.

5. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving envelopes serially through the machine;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising:

a first means to place a reverse bow transversely in said flap,

subsequent means for lifting said flap into contact with a moistening means; and

means to seal said moistened flap to said envelope.

6. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving the lowermost envelope through the device:

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising in sequence:

a first cam means adapted to make contact with the opposite sides of said flap and tending to place a transverse reverse bow in said flap;

a second cam surface adapted to maintain said flap in a partially closed position; and

a third cam surface adapted to lift said flap to a closed position.

7. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving the lowermost envelope through the device;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising in sequence:

a first convex and concave, cam surface means adapted to make contact with the opposite sides of said flap and tending to place a transverse reverse bow in said flap;

a second descending cam surface adapted to maintain said flap in a partially closed position; and

a third ascending cam surface adapted to lift said flap to a closed position.

8. In an envelope sealing device having means for holding a plurality of envelopes nested with flaps open and hanging downward, and means for moving the lowermost envelope through the device;

means to turn the flap of said envelope into a position for sealing, said means comprising in sequence:

a first cam surface means adapted to make contact with the opposite sides of said fiap and tend to place a transverse reverse bow in said flap;

a second cam surface adapted to maintain said flap in a partially closed position,

and a third cam surface adapted to lift said flap to a closed position, said cam surfaces being spaced so as to:

maintain said bow in the part of said flap in contact with said first surface,

maintain open the part of said flap in contact with said second surface; and

lift the part of said flap in contact with said third surface.

9. In a method for closing and sealing an envelope having the flap open and hanging downward, a method for turning said flap to a closed position, which comprises the steps of:

moving said envelope substantially horizontally;

forming a reverse bow transversely at the leading edge of said flap, said bow being formed in a limited longitudinal area of said flap;

continuing said bow through the length of said fiap, and

subsequently lifting said leading edge of said flap and the areas no longer bowed into sealing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,616 6/1906 Liljeros 53376 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner. 

